Embroidered Quilt Top FInish

 As I showed here, a friend asked me to quilt this beautiful embroidered top. She had no request and custom work on this, I admittedly, am too inexperienced to attempt.

Taking pictures of this one proved to be difficult. I didn't want to take it outside, because it's all white and not mine. (smiles) The pictures don't do it justice...but I do know it's truly going to beautify any room it ends up it.

I'm pleased with the all over design of ivy and little birds. Ivy is always a wonderful accent to my own rose gardens and well, who can resist a little bird amongst a garden of roses. 

With smiles,

Val:)

Wool Stitching & Weekend To-Do's (updated)

Sometimes I'm finding that the simplest stitch can sometime have the greatest impact.

Like the use of a running stitch along a flower stem.

I mastered the Palestrina Knot and like the dimension a little knot adds to a blanket stitch. Now what to do on that flower??? Any ideas??? It's relaxing having a little sampler to work on as the evenings get nicer and we can sit outside more.

Speaking of nice...I have a long weekend off from teaching and the hubby is working.

So, because my blog is also like a personal journal, I am going to include my "To-Do" list for the rest of the weekend. (Plus I love making lists and the crossing things off.)

Bam! Got everything marked off  my list just in time to relax, have dinner and stitch & watch a movie tonight. I have the layer cake all ready to go and it will be my next WIP. Updated: 5/26/14. Now if my poor husband would get home from his 8 to 8 shift. (poor guy and he never complains!)

SEWING ROOM

1. Make green house and girls for May RSC challenge.
2. Prep Happy Chemo Quilt to mail
3. Sew flannel layer cake together/Post
4. "Twist" flannel layer cake/Post
5. Finish quilting Embroidered Top/Post
6. Finish Wool BOM
7. Prepare Tuesday Archive Post: Crazy Quilts, Crafty Projects and Color Wheels
8. Enjoy Lifetime movies on in the background as I sew

PERSONAL

1. Write my old college friend
2. Mail a graduation card
3. Bake Bran Muffins
4. Morning dog walks (2 of 2 done!)
5. 3 mile walk
6. Buy new insoles for my walking shoes
7. Order Calendars & Life is Good T-shirts (Mom I haven't forgot...lol!)
8. Catch up on all your blogs and see what everyone is up to.

HOUSE

1. Mow
2. Clean bathrooms
3. Finish Laundry (as finished as laundry gets anyways)
4. Quick dust 
5. Vacume 

Taking a moment to pause and be grateful this Memorial Day Weekend.

With smiles,

Val:)

ALYofF May Classroom Animal Quilt FInish

As I proclaimed  here,  I set out to make a animal quilt with my second grade class.

You know how the saying goes: "Many hands make light work!" My second graders were so excited and so amazed to see "their" quilt finished. They were very inquiring about "how I did this" and I was impressed at all the details they noticed:

They noticed all the animals in the Little Critter pantograph I used: 

They thought the swinging monkeys on the back were funny and liked the orange and red polka dot "trim" as they called it! (I used fabric markers with the kids and created a tutorial here  if you want to see the step by step process of our creation.)

Some of the other teachers recommended I enter this in our upcoming County Fair! (What a nice compliment!) I think I will. So today I'm off to school with plans to take a picture of each child with their square. I'll get them each made into a magnet like my blogging friend Jane has previously suggested. I'll be sure to include a note home encouraging them to visit the fair this summer to see their quilt entered! (Keeping my fingers crossed that  I'll be able to include a class picture with the entry!)

But, I do have to admit, what makes my heart smile the most, is that I've already noticed how it will be loving used for many years to come!

 Thanks for all your blogging support and helpful comments through my process of making this quilt with the kids. You guys are the very best!

With smiles,

Val:)

Linked up with ALYofF and many others listed on my linky page. Do stop by and check out the wonderful work of so many.

Tuesday Archives #12: Chevron & Christmas Quilts

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<a href="http://myplvl.blogspot.com/" title="Val's Quilting Studio"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh-z8MMZ2VMG5eOk3VAQbw4e7l-v0gQQ1yBZyyvmagoeIAeuGX8qww-6JOmIkrtcFvNzCZEAkhaLp1oXC05Jlr-kIGufJ_gRTv3B7C0SVcKnPPa5aeQJUlvX65bsV-8ikQJ2KSxwSCDo8/s1600/Untitled2.jpg" alt="Val's Quilting Studio" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

This week is all about CHEVRON (ZIG-ZAG) & CHRISTMAS Quilts!

CHEVRON (Zig-Zag)QUILTS: 

I made my very first chevron quilt this past March. I'll be sure to link up my post. I Can't wait to see wait to see what you all have to share for finishes and/or tutorials. (As I 'm realizing there is more than one way to make a chevron quilt!)

CHRISTMAS:

Hey! We can all use a little Christmas inspiration right before summer!! LOL!! I found Kathi's Christmas quilt and thought WOW!!! You can check out her entire Christmas project right here. 

Kathi grab yourself a highlighted button:

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An Embroidered Quilt Top

Can you believe the hand work put into this quilt top? Isn't it just stunning! I CAN NOT take any credit for this. It's a commission top I'll be quilting this week, but was grateful it's owner gave me permission to share her beautiful work with you here on my blog.

Here's a few close-ups of her stitching:

Hope you're getting in some kind of stitching, sewing, or quilting this Sunday too.

Feels good to be "playing" in my studio after a long work week.

With Smiles!
Val:)